5-3-2016 First Cutting Forage Quality Summary
Kevin Ganoe, Area Field Crop Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
May 5, 2016
Here are numbers that are helpful when using alfalfa and grass height as an indicator of NDF content:
In general we say 100% grass stands should be cut when nearby alfalfa is 14 inches tall to achieve the desired 50% NDF.
Begin cutting 50/50 mixed alfalfa and grass stands when nearby alfalfa is 22 inches tall for the desired 44% NDF.
Begin cutting 100% alfalfa stands when alfalfa is 28 inches tall for the desired 40% NDF.
The desired NDF for all grass fields is 50%, 50/50 mixed alfalfa and grass fields is 44%, and pure alfalfa stands is 40%. Predicted days to cut are based on daily NDF increases for grasses of 1% point, 50/50 mixed stands of .8% points and alfalfa of .5% point. Typically NDF increases about 0.8 to 1.2/day for grasses expecting the lower end of that range in cooler weather and the higher end in warm. Alfalfa NDF increases about 0.4 to 0.7/day again figuring the lower end of that range with cool temperatures and the higher in warm. Predictions are adjusted for the coming week's weather and right now we are assuming normal growth.
It is always hard to know when to start this process and this year finds many alfalfa fields too short to make predictions from. We need alfalfa 10 inches tall to predict grass NDF and 65% of the fields are less than 10 inches. However those field that are 10 inches or greater would indicate nearby grass stands would need to be cut within the week. Let's note that weather forecasts for the next week call for daytime temperatures to not get above 70 degrees so we would not expect grass NDF to increase more than 1 point per day and maybe even less than 1 point. So if you have pure grass stands and you are in the neighborhood of some of the alfalfa we are measuring 11-13 inches tall likely you need to get out and look at your own fields and plan on being ready to cut by the weekend. Wet ground and weather may keep you off the fields but good to recognize you may need to be ready to go first chance you get.
As always use information in the attached table as a guide to know when to harvest by checking your fields! Next report May 10!
5-3-2016 First Cutting Forage Quality Summary (pdf; 572KB)
Upcoming Events
New York State Fiber Conference
June 9, 2024
Bouckville, NY
Theme for this year: Quality Matters
Announcements
Cash Rent and Custom Harvest Survey
To date, there is limited information available about rental rates and fees for crop harvesting. Farms can use this valuable information for their farm business planning to help improve decision making and profitability.The data that is collected, and the subsequent reports/findings/resources will be helpful for all of us to answer that call of "What's the average rental rate in my area?" and "How much do people charge to combine oats?"
Farmers Can Join MeatSuite For Free!
MeatSuite.com is a free resource provided by Cornell University where NY meat farmers can create a farm profile and list their bulk (wholes, halves, quarters) and bundled (i.e. Grilling Bundle) meat products.Why should farmers join?
1. It's free and easy!
2. Connect with more local customers. In the past year the MeatSuite.com farm directory had 8,300 visits from New York consumers. Farm profiles get as many as 25 views per month from potential local customers. We also spotlight MeatSuite farms on social media and bring attention and purchases to farms through highlights and giveaways.
How do I join?
Farmers can visit https://www.meatsuite.com/farmers/ to create a free farm profile. You must list at least one product for your farm's profile to go live. You'll also have access to Cornell's free Meat Price Calculator, a helpful tool for pricing your meat to make a profit.
While you're on MeatSuite, check out the "Creating Consumer-Friendly Bulk Meats" publication on the log-in page. It has tips on how to create bulk meat products that are easier for first-time buyers to say "yes" to.
If you have any questions as you create your farm profile or products, we're here to help! Please email Matt LeRoux at mnl28@cornell.edu.